Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Things You’ll Need:
- Tennis balls and/or rolling pin
- Warm rice sock
- Ice pack
- Pillow
Step1
It is common as the baby's head descends into the pelvis that back pressure and pain can increase. Encourage Mom to get into a hands and knees position. Apply counter pressure to the back using the palms of your hands, two tennis balls or a rolling pin. Place them where she feels she needs the pressure and move them slowly and firmly over that area.
Step2
Apply heat. You can use a rice sock or a heating pad for this. If neither of them work, you can try a warm bath or shower. Warming sensations usually relax the body.
Step3
If you don't want heat, try ice. You can use an ice pack or perhaps just a really cold towel across the sore part of the back. Cold can help decrease swelling and inflammation as well.
Step4
Change positions. Sometimes all it takes is a position change to help alleviate back discomfort. Getting on hands and knees, either on the floor or leaning over a birthing ball, helps pull the baby's head off of the spine, which can help alleviate the pain. You may also want to try lying on your side with a pillow between your knees, which may also help take the stress off of the lower back.
Step5
Try movement. Oftentimes, movement of Mom's pelvis helps the baby to rotate to a more favorable position, which can possibly alleviate back pain. Some movements you can try are walking up and down stairs, standing or kneeling lunges (great technique for asynclictic heads), or the simple motion of swinging your hips from side to side or in circles while standing or leaning over the birth ball.
Step6
Use a birth tub. Birth tubs are specific tubs used for birthing. They are usually two to three feet deep and are filled with very warm water for Mom to labor and deliver in. Oftentimes, the warmness and buoyancy of the water will help lessen back pain as well.
